Inklingo

How to Say "tears" in Spanish

English → Spanish

lágrimas

nounA1general
Use 'lágrimas' when referring to the actual fluid that comes from your eyes when you cry.

Examples

Las lágrimas corrían por su cara.

Tears ran down her face.

llanto

yan-tohˈʝanto

nounB1general
Use 'llanto' to describe the act or sound of crying, or the state of being upset and crying.
A close-up illustration of a person's face with large, blue tears rolling down their cheeks.

Examples

El llanto del niño lo despertó.

The child's crying woke him up.

El llanto del bebé se escuchaba en toda la casa.

The baby's crying could be heard throughout the house.

Ella no pudo contener el llanto cuando vio a su hijo.

She couldn't hold back her tears when she saw her son.

Después de la pelea, se entregó a un llanto desconsolado.

After the fight, she gave in to inconsolable weeping.

Action vs. Noun

Remember that 'llanto' is the name of the sound or the act (a noun). If you want to say 'to cry', you should use the action word 'llorar'.

Using the Article

Since it is a masculine noun, always use 'el' or 'un' before it (e.g., 'el llanto').

Confusing it with the verb

Mistake: “Yo llanto mucho.”

Correction: Yo lloro mucho. 'Llanto' is a noun (crying), not the verb (to cry).

rotos

RO-tohsˈrotos

nounB2general
Use 'rotos' specifically to refer to holes or rips in clothing, like a tear in fabric.
A pair of blue jeans with a large visible tear at the knee.

Examples

Tenía un roto en el pantalón.

He had a tear in his pants.

Mi abuela cosió los rotos de mis calcetines.

My grandmother sewed the tears in my socks.

Confusing Crying with Holes

The most common mistake is using 'lágrimas' or 'llanto' when you mean a hole in clothing. Remember, 'rotos' is the specific word for physical damage like rips or tears in fabric, while 'lágrimas' and 'llanto' relate to crying.

Related Translations

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